Stamp applying head

ABSTRACT

For high-speed application of postage stamps to letters, a spindle to hold the roll of postage stamps, guide rollers to guide a strip of stamps from the roller, a slitter to cut each stamp individually at its perforations from the strip and vacuum means for securing the loose stamp, moistening or applying glue to the stamp and securing the stamp to a moving mail piece. The vacuum means includes a vacuum wheel having a vacuum port at its circumference and connecting holes leading to the side of the vacuum wheel, a non-rotating valve plate against the side of the vacuum wheel alternately admitting and blocking vacuum to the vacuum port and a source of constant vacuum.

United States Patent [191 Buckholz Aug. 21, 1973 STAMP APPLYING HEAD [75] inventor: Ronald J. Buckholz, Bay Shore, N.Y.

[73] Assignee: Designed Mailing Accessories, Inc., Bay Shore, N.Y.

[22] Filed: Aug. 10, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 170,485

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 25,951, April 6, 1970, abandoned, and a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 58,543, July 27, 1970, abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 729,336, May 15, 1968, abandoned.

3,647,602 3/1972 McGuire et a1 156/528 3,681,160 8/1972 Richie et al 156/521 X 3,682,743 8/1972 Cleary et a1. 156/521 X 3,707,423 12/1972 Davies et a1. 156/567 X 3,707,424 12/1972 Artelt 156/521 3,708,374 l/l973 Polit 156/521 3,710,667 l/1973 Kluger 156/528 X 3,711,357 1/1973 Ernst et a1. 156/567 3,713,948 l/1973 Kluger 156/521 X Primary ExaminerHarold Ansher Attorney-Samuel .l. Stoll and Robert S. Stoll [57] ABSTRACT For high-speed application of postage stamps to letters, a spindle to hold the roll of postage stamps, guide rollers to guide a strip of stamps from the roller, a slitter to cut each stamp individually at its perforations from the strip and vacuum means for securing the loose stamp, moistening or applying glue to the stamp and securing the stamp to a moving mail piece. The vacuum means includes a vacuum wheel having a vacuum port at its circumference and connecting holes leading to the side of the vacuum wheel, a non-rotating valve plate against the side of the vacuum wheel alternately admitting and blocking vacuum to the vacuum port and a source of constant vacuum.

15 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PAIENTEU M1921 I913 SHEET 10F 7 INVENTOR. 720mm J. BUCKHOLZ A T TOR/VEYS PATENIEB I821 8975 SHEU 2 BF 7 I NVENTOR. RONALD J BUCKHOLZ ATTORNEYS PAIENIEBMIBZI mm 37538136 SHEET 3 OF 7 JNVEN TOR RONALD J. BUCKHOLZ ATTORNEYS PATENTEU M16 2 I I975 SHEU U 0F 7 l l i l l I i 1 l INVENTOR. ROAWLD J- BUCKHOLZ ATTORNEYS Pmmimuezl ma 37511836 saw 5 or 1 INVENTOR. RONALD J. BUCKHOLZ Sla A 7' T ORNE Y6 PAIENIEDMIBZI m 3.7531336 SHEET 7 0F 7 INVENTOR. RONALD J. BUCKHOLZ I? TTURNEYS STAMP APPLYING HEAD This application is a continuation-in-part of copending US. Patent application Ser. No. 25,951, filed Apr. 6, 1970, entitled FEED STATION, and is also a continuation-in-part of co-pending US. Pat. application Ser. No. 58,543, filed July 27, 1970, entitled HIGH-SPEED IMPRINTER, both of which are continuations-in-part of US. Pat. application Ser. No. 729,336, filed May 15, 1968 and also entitled HIGH- SPEED IMPRINTER. All of these applications have since been abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The stamp affixing head is intended for use in the bulk mailing industry wherein it is necessary to work with extremely high volumes of mail at very high speeds. Shown in the related applications mentioned above are base and conveyor means together with imprinter means. The stamp affixing head is intended to replace the imprinting head on the conveyor base and the heads are generally interchangeable as desired. They may also be used in tandem; that is, one head following the other along the conveyor for concurrent operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The conveyor base upon which the stamp affixing head is placed is provided with a variable speed power source. By means of conventional couplings such as belts, gears, shafts and the like, the base drive system also drives the stamp affixing head. This is desirable both from the standpoint of cost and that no separate motor is needed for the head; it is important to the proper functioning of the machine in that all drive parts are synchronized as to speed and position with respect to all other such parts. It should be noted, however, that the invention contemplates the use of independent drive means for the stamp affixing head alone in which case other provision must be made for synchronization.

A central portion of the machine is the vacuum wheel which picks up a single cut stamp and individually moistens the stamp or applies an adhesive and affixes the stamp to a mailing piece. The vacuum must be applied at the time the stamp is picked up by the wheel and released as the stamp is applied to the mailing piece. Selective valve means are provided for this purpose so that a constant source of vacuum may be used.

The Post Ofiice Department provides postage stamps in rolls or coils. Provision is made in the present machine to accurately cut each stamp at its perforation from the roll for pickup by the vacuum wheel. The cutting means includes a cam-actuated slitter. The cam is driven in synchronization with a sprocket wheel having sprockets which engage the perforations between stamps. The cam lobe is provided with a sharp leading edge 'for fast operation of the slitter so that the stamps may move continuously and need not stop during the slitting operation.

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the stamp affixing head, the conveyor base and in-feed and out-feed means.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view of the machine shown in FIG. 1. Portions of the gear train and frame supports are shown in phantom.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken across line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the stamp affixing head and conveyor base of the present invention. The view is' across line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an end view of the stamp affixing head and conveyor base of the present invention as taken across line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the cutting means, vacuum head, moistener and stamp guide means of the present invention. Also shown is the vacuum source.

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are sequential schematic representations of the operation of the stamp affixing head. in FIG. 7 a stamp has just been slit and picked up by the vacuum wheel. In FIG. 8 the vacuum wheel has rotated approximately to the moistening station where the adhesive on the stamp is moistened. FIG. 9 shows the vacuum wheel having rotated a further 90 and the stamp being applied to a mailing piece. In the sequence of FIGS. 7-9, it will be noted that all other parts have synchronized their movement with the vacuum wheel.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawing, the stamp affixing head I0 of the present invention is mounted on a conveyor base 12 having an in-feed l4 and an out-feed 16. Stamp affixing head 10 is provided with a housing 18 enclosing a gear train 20 and a shaft support 22. Shaft support 22 provides the basic structural support for stamp affixing head 10 and is mounted on conveyor base 12 on one side of the conveyor 13. A main drive shaft 24 is connected to drive motor 26 of conveyor base 12 by means of a suitable power train. For convenience, drive shaft 24 may bridge conveyor 13 and enter conveyor base 12 on the side opposite the side on which stamp affixing head 10 is mounted. Gear train 20 carries from drive shaft 24 to the various drive members to be described.

A stamp coil 28 is mounted on a bracket and arm assembly 30. Extending from coil 28 is a strip of stamps 32 which is looped about an idler pulley 34, a drive pulley 36 below the idler pulley, and a sprocket wheel 38 having sprocket pins 39 adapted to engage the perforations between stamps. Sprocket wheel 38 is driven from gear train 20. Stamp strip 32 then travels down an inclined guide 40 to a horizontal guide 42. The forward end of horizontal guide 42 acts cooperatively with knife 44 to slit individual stamps from strip 32.

Knife 44 is mounted in a hinged bed 46 which is provided with a roller follower 48 at its free end. Roller follower 48 bears against cam 50 by means of a spring 52. Cam 50 is provided with at least one lobe 54 which acts to push roller follower 48 and knife 44 downwardly, thereby cutting a stamp from strip 32. Each lobe 54 is provided with a relatively sharp leading edge and a relatively smooth trailing edge (the leading edge being in the direction of rotation of cam 50 which is counterclockwise as seen in FIGS. 6-9) such that knife 44 is driven sharply downwardly to cut the stamp. Cam 50 is driven by gear train 20.

Situated immediately below knife 44 is a vacuum wheel 56 which has at least one vacuum port 58 on its circumference. Vacuum port 58 comprises at least one hole 60 in the circumference of the wheel. Preferably, there are two holes 60 as shown in FIG. 6 which extend circumferentially for slightly less than the length of an individual stamp. Holes 60 extend radially inwardly of vacuum wheel 56 and thence sidewardly through to one side of vacuum wheel 56 where it terminates in an aperture 61.

A valve plate 64 is mounted on the same shaft as vacuum wheel 56 adjacent the side of the vacuum wheel which has aperture 61. Valve plate 64 extends radially beyond aperture 61 and bears closely enough to vacuum wheel 56 to provide a seal between them. A valve plate hole 66 in valve plate 20 is located at the same radial distance as is aperture 61 such that the hole and the aperture are aligned as vacuum wheel 56 rotates. Valve plate 64 does not rotate and is held in position by any suitable clamp running to conveyor base 12 from a vacuum coupling 68 which communicates between a source of constant vacuum 70 and valve plate hole 66.

Valve plate hole 66 terminates in a semi-circular groove 62 on the side of valve plate 64 which is adjacent vacuum wheel 56. Semi-circular groove 62 is located at the same radial distance from the center of vacuum wheel 56 as are aperture 61 and valve plate hole 66. The arcuate dimension of semi-circular groove 62 coincides with the rotational distance through which it is necessary to provide vacuum to vacuum port 58. in the embodiment shown in the drawing, knife 44 is approximately at the top of vacuum wheel 56 and the point at which the stamp is to be released from vacuum wheel 56 is at the bottom thereof. Accordingly, semicircular groove 62 extends approximately 180.

The sequence of operation is shown in FIGS. 7-9. As shown in FIG. 7, vacuum wheel 56 is located with vacuum port 58 adjacent knife 44. A stamp has been cut from its strip 32 and it is necessary to apply vacuum at the vacuum port in order to secure the stamp thereagainst. Accordingly, aperture 61 is aligned with the beginning of semi-circular groove 62 and vacuum is conducted from constant source 70 to vacuum port 58. Vacuum wheel 56 rotates in the counterclockwise direction as seen in these figures to the position shown in FIG. 8 where the stamp is rotated against a roller applicator 72 for the application of adhesive or moisture to the reverse side of the stamp. It will be noted that the reverse side of the stamp faces outwardly, and the obverse side of the stamp faces inwardly of vacuum wheel 56. Vacuum wheel 56 continues its rotation to the position shown in FIG. 9. At this position the stamp is in contact with a mailing piece 74 which is traveling with a linear speed equal to the tangential velocity of vacuum wheel 56. Semi-circular groove 62 has been terminated slightly in advance of this position and aperture 61 is no longer aligned with the groove. Accordingly, vacuum is cut off at vacuum port 58 and the stamp is released in adhesive contact with mailing piece 74. A base roller 76 provides a moving surface against which the stamp and mailing piece may be pressed for secure adhesion of the stamp.

The arcuate extent of semi-circular groove 62 accordingly coincides with the arcuate distance through which it is necessary to have vacuum applied at vacuum port 58. This may be an interrupted groove as the case may require.

Roller applicator 72 dips into a liquid tray 78 which may contain water or an adhesive. The choice between water and adhesive depends in part upon the speed at which stamp applying head 10 will be operated. If the speed is too high, water alone will be insufficient to moisten the glue normally found on postage stamps and it is accordingly necessary to apply an adhesive. The adhesive should have properties appropriate to its job of securing a stamp to an envelope at extremely high speeds.

Vacuum source may include a connection block 80 and a vacuum gauge 82.

Out-feed 16 is shown in FIG. 1 as being located at right angles to conveyor 13. It may be desirable to provide a deflector plate 84 and a deflecting wand 86 to direct mailing pieces downwardly to the out-feed conveyor. Deflector plate 84 is curved and may form a spiral in cross-section.

While the foregoing is illustrative of preferred embodiments of the invention it is clear that other embodiments may be had within the teachings thereof. For example, semi-circular groove 62 need not be in valve plate 64 but may instead be in vacuum wheel 56. Also, knife bed 46 need not be hinged but may be mounted directly on a leaf spring such as spring 52 for proper action.

The application of postage stamps to mailing pieces has been referred to in the foregoing. Stamp affixing head 10 may, of course, be utilized to affix other individual pieces of flexible mail which are to be cut from a strip or roller. Other applications include the use of address labels to mailing pieces and the automatic slitting of individual slides from a film strip for application to a slide holder. The indexing holes found in film strips make this a particularly appropriate use of the machine when sprocket wheel 38 is modified for engagement with the indexing holes.

What is claimed is:

1. A stamp applying head, comprising:

a. guide means for a strip of stamps, said guide means comprising:

i. a sprocket wheel;

ii. a guide for guiding the stamps from said sprocket wheel to said knife means; and

iii. pulleys to conduct the strip of stamps from a coil of stamps to said sprocket wheel;

b. knife means for slitting individual stamps from the strip; and

c. vacuum wheel means for conducting the slit stamp from said knife means to the place of application of the stamp to a mailing piece.

2. A stamp applying head in accordance with claim 1, wherein said knife means comprises:

a. a hinged knife bed including a knife;

b. a cam; and

c. follower means for said cam and mounted on said knife bed whereby the contour of the cam determines the position of the knife in relation to the strip of stamps to be cut.

3. A stamp applying head in accordance with claim 2 wherein:

said follower means and knife bed are spring-urged toward said cam.

4. The stamp applying head in accordance with claim 4, wherein said vacuum wheel means comprises:

a. a vacuum wheel, said vacuum wheel having at least one vacuum port on its circumference, an aperture on one side thereof and conduit means connecting said aperture to said vacuum port; and

b. vacuum plate means, said vacuum plate means being situated adjacent said side of said vacuum wheel and extending radially beyond said aperture, said vacuum plate means being connected to a constant source of vacuum.

5. A stamp applying head in accordance with claim 4, wherein said vacuum plate means additionally comprises:

at least one semi-circular groove, said semi-circular groove located at the same radial distance as said aperture and communicating with said vacuum source.

6. A stamp applying head in accordance with claim 1, wherein said knife means comprises:

a. a hinged knife bed including a knife;

b. a cam; and

c. follower means for said cam and mounted on said knife bed whereby the contour of the cam determines the position of the knife in relation to the strip of stamps to be cut.

7. A stamp applying head in accordance with claim 6, wherein: said follower means and knife bed are spring-urged toward said cam.

8. A stamp applying head in accordance with claim 6, additionally comprising:

gear means, said gear means connecting between said cam and said sprocket wheel whereby said cam and said sprocket wheel are synchronized in operation.

9. A stamp applying head in accordance with claim 6, wherein said vacuum wheel means comprises:

a. a vacuum wheel, said vacuum wheel having at least one vacuum port on its circumference, an aperture on one side thereof and conduit means connecting said aperture to said vacuum port; and

b. vacuum plate means, said vacuum plate means being situated adjacent said side of said vacuum wheel and extending radially beyond said aperture, said vacuum plate means being connected to a constant source of vacuum.

10. A stamp applying head in accordance with claim 9, wherein said vacuum plate means additionally comprises:

at least one semi-circular groove, said semi-circular groove located at the same radial distance as said aperture and communicating with said vacuum source.

11. A stamp applying head in accordance with claim 9, additionally comprising:

gear means, said gear means connecting between said cam and said sprocket wheel whereby said cam and said sprocket wheel are synchronized in operation.

12. A stamp applying head in accordance with claim 1, wherein said vacuum wheel means comprises:

a. a vacuum wheel, said vacuum wheel having at least one vacuum port on its circumference, an aperture on one side thereof and conduit means connecting said aperture to said vacuum port; and

b. vacuum plate means, said vacuum plate means being situated adjacent said side of said vacuum wheel and extending radially beyond said aperture, said vacuum plate means being connected to a constant source of vacuum.

13. A stamp applying head in accordance with claim 12, wherein said vacuum plate means additionally comprises:

at least one semi-circular groove, said semi-circular groove located at the same radial distance as said aperture and communicating with said vacuum source.

14. A stamp applying head in accordance with claim I, wherein said vacuum wheel means comprises:

a. a vacuum wheel, said vacuum wheel having at least one vacuum port on its circumference, an aperture on one side thereof and conduit means connecting said aperture to said vacuum port; and

b. vacuum plate means, said vacuum plate means being situated adjacent said side of said vacuum wheel and extending radially beyond said aperture, said vacuum plate means being connected to a constant source of vacuum.

15. A stamp applying head in accordance with claim 14, wherein said vacuum plate means additionally comprises:

at least one semi-circular groove, said semi-circular groove located at the same radial distance as said aperture and communicating with said vacuum source. 

1. A stamp applying head, comprising: a. guide means for a strip of stamps, said guide means comprising: i. a sprocket wheel; ii. a guide for guiding the stamps from said sprocket wheel to said knife means; and iii. pulleys to conduct the strip of stamps from a coil of stamps to said sprocket wheel; b. knife means for slitting individual stamps from the strip; and c. vacuum wheel means for conducting the slit stamp from said knife means to the place of application of the stamp to a mailing piece.
 2. A stamp applying head in accordance with claim 1, wherein said knife means comprises: a. a hinged knife bed including a knife; b. a cam; and c. follower means for said cam and mounted on said knife bed whereby the contour of the cam determines the position of the knife in relation to the strip of stamps to be cut.
 3. A stamp applying head in accordance with claim 2 wherein: said follower means and knife bed are spring-urged toward said cam.
 4. The stamp applying head in accordance with claim 4, wherein said vacuum wheel means comprises: a. a vacuum wheel, said vacuum wheel having at least one vacuum port on its circumference, an aperture on one side thereof and conduit means connecting said aperture to said vacuum port; and b. vacuum plate means, said vacuum plate means being situated adjacent said side of said vacuum wheel and extending radially beyond said aperture, said vacuum plate means being connected to a constant source of vacuum.
 5. A stamp applying head in accordance with claim 4, wherein said vacuum plate means additionally comprises: at least one semi-circular groove, said semi-circular groove located at the same radial distance as said aperture and communicating with said vacuum source.
 6. A stamp applying head in accordance with claim 1, wherein said knife means comprises: a. a hinged knife bed including a knife; b. a cam; and c. follower means for said cam and mounted on said knife bed whereby the contour of the cam determines the position of the knife in relation to the strip of stamps to be cut.
 7. A stamp applying head in accordance with claim 6, wherein: said follower means and knife bed are spring-urged toward said cam.
 8. A stamp applying head in accordance with claim 6, additionally comprising: gear means, said gear means connecting between said cam and said sprocket wheel whereby said cam and said sprocket wheel are synchronized in operation.
 9. A stamp applying head in accordance with claim 6, wherein said vacuum wheel means comprises: a. a vacuum wheel, said vacuum wheel hAving at least one vacuum port on its circumference, an aperture on one side thereof and conduit means connecting said aperture to said vacuum port; and b. vacuum plate means, said vacuum plate means being situated adjacent said side of said vacuum wheel and extending radially beyond said aperture, said vacuum plate means being connected to a constant source of vacuum.
 10. A stamp applying head in accordance with claim 9, wherein said vacuum plate means additionally comprises: at least one semi-circular groove, said semi-circular groove located at the same radial distance as said aperture and communicating with said vacuum source.
 11. A stamp applying head in accordance with claim 9, additionally comprising: gear means, said gear means connecting between said cam and said sprocket wheel whereby said cam and said sprocket wheel are synchronized in operation.
 12. A stamp applying head in accordance with claim 1, wherein said vacuum wheel means comprises: a. a vacuum wheel, said vacuum wheel having at least one vacuum port on its circumference, an aperture on one side thereof and conduit means connecting said aperture to said vacuum port; and b. vacuum plate means, said vacuum plate means being situated adjacent said side of said vacuum wheel and extending radially beyond said aperture, said vacuum plate means being connected to a constant source of vacuum.
 13. A stamp applying head in accordance with claim 12, wherein said vacuum plate means additionally comprises: at least one semi-circular groove, said semi-circular groove located at the same radial distance as said aperture and communicating with said vacuum source.
 14. A stamp applying head in accordance with claim 1, wherein said vacuum wheel means comprises: a. a vacuum wheel, said vacuum wheel having at least one vacuum port on its circumference, an aperture on one side thereof and conduit means connecting said aperture to said vacuum port; and b. vacuum plate means, said vacuum plate means being situated adjacent said side of said vacuum wheel and extending radially beyond said aperture, said vacuum plate means being connected to a constant source of vacuum.
 15. A stamp applying head in accordance with claim 14, wherein said vacuum plate means additionally comprises: at least one semi-circular groove, said semi-circular groove located at the same radial distance as said aperture and communicating with said vacuum source. 